Keep Christmas safe for kitties

Got cats? Then you’ve got to be extra careful during the Christmas season because the decorative stuff we humans love can pose a real threat to the felines that call our houses home. And that’s not all. Parties, guests, even the wrappings we put on packages can spell trouble to pets.

We know. We’ve dealt with cats and Christmas–well, for longer than we intend to say. So, we’re sharing a few tips to safeguard the furry members of your household and help you avoid a scary visit to the vet.

Pay special attention to the following:

THE TREE. It’s the centerpiece of your decorating. But to a cat, a tree is a tree; not an object of artistic awe but, instead, a marvelous thing to jump on and climb. Therefore, be sure to put your tree well out of Miss Kitty’s reach. Up high with no possible access. Better still, put the tree in a room that’s strictly off limits to cats.

ORNAMENTS: Avoid the glass ones. They break too easily and Miss Kitty can get her curious little pink nose cut by the pieces or get the sharp things in her paws. Try the plastic alternative that can look every bit as pretty.

LIGHTS. They flicker. They glow. Miss Kitty can’t help it–she has to investigate. So, once again, put them out of reach. Don’t let the holidays be shocking.

CANDLES. Tails swish. And if there’s an open flame, fur can quickly catch fire. Candles that are battery operated are the best answer here. They look very realistic these days, last a long time and are completely cat proof.

RIBBONS. We’ve told the story before, but it bears repeating–the tale of how Missy carried off a red ribbon in her mouth and scared me almost to death. She didn’t swallow it, thank goodness, but if she had it could have caused choking or havoc with her insides. Watch things when wrapping your packages–maybe put Miss Kitty in another room.

OPEN DOORS. The guests arrive. The cheery greetings resound. Miss Kitty sees her chance and the enticing open spaces. Out she goes. And where she’ll land, nobody knows. Solution: Keep Kitty in a safe room until the Christmas crowd is in and out of your house.

PARTY ANIMALS. Guests, bless them, often don’t watch their feet a whole lot and can easily step on Miss Kitty if she’s working the room. Bring her out to say, “Happy holidays,” and then put her right back in a safe room until the party’s over. All the feet can’t find her there.

LEFTOVERS. Put the leftover food from the party in the refrigerator right away. A turkey leg is just too tempting to Miss Kitty and may give her a tummy ache.

THE CHRISTMAS CANDY. We love to indulge in chocolate, but if pets do this, it’s poisonous. Hide those pretty candies from Miss Kitty and give her some nutritious cat food or a few cat treats instead.

THE POINSETTIA. Somebody brought you a beautiful one as a gift, right? You want to display it properly. But if Miss Kitty has a sudden hunger attack at midnight and starts nibbling on that plant, you’ll be in trouble. It will make her sick–or worse. Display the floral gift in a spot where Miss Kitty never is allowed to go.